Models and Truth

Models and Truth

I learned an importan lesson long ago in physics class. On the blackboard, the teacher drew a picture of an atom similar to the one below: He then asked if that was the correct model of the atom. We, being know-it-all college students, said no. So he drew up an orbital model we'd seen in discussing chemical reactions. Again- correct? Again - no. And so on. After a few different versions, he stopped, and said we were all wrong. He then explained why. None of the models on the board were tru…

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Those Evil Algorithms

Those Evil Algorithms

I've written before [https://thelastredoubt.com/garbage-in-or-racist-and-sexist-ai/] how it's "unexpected" that AI (and body cams), intended to be fair and impartial, suddenly are "racist" and "sexist". Now it's the turn of algorithms intended to make justice more impartial [http://archive.is/KUnDO]. Per wired, the subheader: "A 2011 Kentucky law requires judges to consult an algorithm when deciding whether defendants must post cash bail. More whites were allowed to go home, but not blacks." Fu…

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Chernobyl

Chernobyl

The series on HBO has come to an end, and while in some ways it suffers from the usual dragging pace of binge-watch oriented series, and the previously mentioned "lets make a representative scientist character, who know more than all her coworkers, a woman" - significantly toned down after the introductory episode - is still a solid retelling of the Chernobyl disaster [https://infogalactic.com/info/Chernobyl_disaster]. The infogalactic article [https://infogalactic.com/info/Chernobyl_disaster] i…

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The APA and Masculinity

The APA and Masculinity

I originally wasn't going to write about this as it's all too easy to fall into yet another pointless scream-and-shout about it, but after letting it simmer for a while, I think it's well worth writing taking the time. First, a vid from a psychologist who takes issue with the new APA guidelines and makes a few good points about how shitty they truly are. It's not much of an exaggeration to say that he's putting his license on the line... OK. Since I still keep track of Ars for…

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"Weird" and Woo-Woo Beliefs

"Weird" and Woo-Woo Beliefs

OK. I mentioned the other day that I understand rabbit holes that smart people go down. Looking back, I wasn't sufficiently clear, because I strongly implied that I was above it, not in the sense that I didn't go down them, but that I had completely come back out of all of them, and now agreed with what all the "smart" people say is true. I haven't. "Woo-woo beliefs" Moon First of all, while I'm certain for a number of reasons that we did put men on the…

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